AC 121-24B 2/1/99 Appendix 3 Par 2 Page 7 (and 8) APPENDIX 3. PART 135 OPERATIONS (continued)
(11) Carry-On Baggage. The cards should inform passengers not to bring carry-on baggage to the exit in the event of an emergency.
(12) Brace Position. The cards should contain information about protective brace positions to be assumed by passengers, including children, in all seat orientations (i.e., forward-, aft-, and side-facing) and all seat spacing for that aircraft. Information about these brace positions is contained in Appendix 4 of this AC.
(13) Location of Survival Equipment. The cards must provide information about the location of survival equipment. This is best done by using diagrams.
(14) Location and Use of Fire Extinguishers. The cards must depict the location of fire extinguishers. In addition, they must provide information regarding the use of fire extinguishers.
(15) Individual Flotation Devices. The cards must depict their stowage location and contain instructions concerning removal of the devices from the stowage locations, extraction from the stowage pouches or packages, manual and oral inflation backup systems, its use in the water, and the manual operation of survivor locator lights and accessories, as appropriate. The cards should depict the method of fitting adult life preservers on small children. It is suggested that if the airline supplies child flotation devices, the donning and method of inflation of these devices be depicted on the cards.
(16) Oxygen Mask. The cards must contain instructions on the location, donning, and means for adjusting oxygen masks; any further actions needed to start the flow of oxygen; and instructions to passengers to don their own oxygen mask before assisting children with their masks.
(17) Portable Electronic Devices. The cards should inform passengers of permissible times, conditions, and limitations when various portable electronic devices may be used.
(18) Supplemental Information. The cards may contain supplemental instructions. For example, for takeoff and landing, carry-on baggage and tray tables must be properly stowed, galley service items must be collected from passengers and stowed, and seat backs must be placed in their fully upright position.
(19) Extended Overwater Operations. When liferafts are required to be carried in extended overwater operations, the cards must depict liferaft and slide/raft stowage, launching, and securing locations. The cards also must contain instructions for passengers concerning preparation for use, inflation methods, and the means for securing rafts to the aircraft.
AC 121-24B 2/1/99 Appendix 4 Par 1 Page 1 APPENDIX 4. BRACE-FOR-IMPACT POSITION
1. INTRODUCTION. The Aeromedical Research Branch of the Civil Aeromedical Institute, Protection and Survival Laboratory, conducted research and tests with respect to establishing “brace-for-impact” positions for passengers and flight attendants. In order to establish a best brace-for-impact position for each person, it would be necessary to know the size and physical limitations of the individual, the seating configuration, the type of emergency, and many other factors.
2. REASONS FOR BRACING FOR IMPACT.
a. There are two primary reasons for bracing for impact. One is to reduce flailing and the other is to reduce secondary impact. Secondary impact can be reduced by prepositioning the body (particularly the head) against the surface it would strike during impact. Flailing can be reduced by having the occupant flex, bend, or lean forward over their legs in some manner.
b. Aircraft being used today may have seating arrangements which result in very small seat pitches (the space between rows of seats) or may have a combination of small and large seat pitch spacing (i.e., an aircraft with a first-class/coach seating arrangement). Also, recent amendments to part 121 have upgraded the airworthiness standards for flight attendant seats including the requirement for shoulder harnesses. In view of this information, the purpose of this appendix is to provide the best possible information for most emergency situations.
3. PASSENGER POSITIONS. Passengers should take a brace position in one of several ways and, in all cases, the seatbelt should be worn as tight as possible and as low on the torso as possible.
a. In aircraft with low-density seating or seats spaced relatively far apart, passengers should, as depicted in Figures 2 or 3, rest their heads and chests against their legs. Flailing can be reduced by having the passengers grasp their ankles or legs as depicted in Figure 2 or, if they are unable to do that, they should wrap their arms under their legs as depicted in Figure 3. Their heads should be face down in their laps and not turned to one side.
b. In aircraft with high-density seating or in cases where passengers are physically limited and are unable to place their heads in their laps, they should position their heads and arms against the seat (or bulkhead) in front of them as depicted in Figure 1.
c. Passengers in aft-facing seats should rest their heads on the seat back (or bulkhead) behind them as depicted in Figure 5. The passengers should not place their hands in back of their heads, as has been recommended in the past; instead, they should either place their hands in their laps or grasp the side of their seats.
d. The passengers' feet should be placed flat on the floor and slightly in front of the edge of the seat.
AC 121-24B Appendix 4 2/1/99 Page 2 Par 3 APPENDIX 4. BRACE-FOR-IMPACT POSITION (continued)
e. Passengers should not use pillows or blankets between their bodies and the object they are bracing against (either a seat back or their own body). Pillows and blankets provide little, if any, energy absorption and increase the possibility of secondary impact injury. Also, pillows and blankets could create additional clutter in the aisles which could be a detriment in an emergency evacuation.
f. Children which are occupying approved child restraint devices should be braced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Children in passenger seats should utilize the same brace position as adults. Adults holding infants should provide as uniform support as possible to the infant's head, neck, and body, and lean over the infant to minimize the possibility of injury due to flailing.
g. Pregnant or handicapped passengers may need the assistance of another person in taking a brace position but should, in general, attempt to take the same brace position as the other passengers. If aft-facing passenger seats are available, these passengers may benefit from being located in those seats.
4. FLIGHT ATTENDANT POSITIONS. The brace positions for flight attendants will depend on the direction their seats face and type of restraint system those seats are equipped with.
a. In forward-facing seats equipped with an inertial reel shoulder harness, the flight attendants should sit back in the seat as depicted in Figure 5 and rest their chins on their sternums as depicted in Figure 4. If the seats are equipped with noninertial reel-type shoulder harnesses, the flight attendants should fasten their shoulder harnesses as tight as possible, lean against them, and rest their chins on their sternums as depicted in Figure 4. The flight attendants' arms and hands should be positioned in their laps or holding onto the side of their seats, but should not be holding onto their restraint systems.
b. In rear-facing flight attendant seats, the flight attendants should sit back in their seats, rest their heads against their seat backs or headrests, and have the restraint systems, either inertial or noninertial type, as tight as possible as depicted in Figure 5. Their hands should not be clasped behind their heads, but may be positioned as in a forward-facing seat.
5. OTHER SITUATIONS.
a. Helicopter “brace-for-impact” positions are the same as those for aircraft. Flight attendants, if present, should utilize either the brace position for passengers or for flight attendants, depending on their seats and restraint systems.
b. In the case of a planned emergency landing, the passengers should be briefed on the above information. In the case of an unplanned emergency, the flight attendants may only have
AC 121-24B 2/1/99 Appendix 4 Par 5 Page 3 APPENDIX 4. BRACE-FOR-IMPACT POSITION (continued) enough time to give a short command, such as “lean over” or “grab your ankles.” Experience has shown that in an attempt to take a brace position of some sort, the passengers will end up in a position which could result in less injury than if no attempt had been made at all.
AC 121-24B Appendix 4 2/1/99 Page 4 Par 5 FIGURES 1-5. BRACING POSITIONS
BRACING
POSITIONS Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Figure 4.
Figure 5.